CC Minutes - 05/26/09 Work Session

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M I N U T E S Eugene City Council McNutt Room—City Hall—777 Pearl Street Eugene, Oregon May 26, 2009 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Chris Pryor, Mike Clark, Andrea Ortiz, Jennifer Solomon, Alan Zelenka, George Poling, George Brown, Betty Taylor. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the work session of the Eugene City Council to order at 5:37 p.m. She explained that the council had just conducted an executive session for purposes of putting a motion on the table to make an offer of the police auditor position. She noted that Ms. Solomon would be arriving later in the meeting. Mr. Zelenka, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved to offer the position of police auditor to Mark Gissner at a salary of $94,723.00 annually and other terms similar to those contained in the contract between the City and Cris Beamud, the first police audi- tor. Ms. Taylor stated that she would vote for the motion but wanted to state publicly that the current Interim Police Auditor was the best qualified by education, intelligence and experience for the job and the City could have saved a lot of money and gotten a good person by hiring her. Mr. Zelenka stated that Mark Gissner had been the police auditor in Cincinnati, Ohio, had a great deal of experience and would make a good auditor for Eugene, given his background, history and skills. Ms. Ortiz said it had been a long process and she was pleased that the council was offering the position to a person with the credentials and background for the work who brought a national and international perspective to the office. Mr. Zelenka explained that there would be a transition period, with Mr. Gissner beginning part-time on June 29 and moving to full-time on August 7. Ms. Piercy commended the due diligence performed by council officers and City staff in order to select a new police auditor. She cited many of the favorable recommendations and remarks that were received about Mr. Gissner. She said of particular importance was Mr. Gissner’s positive relationship with the minority communities in Cincinnati, representatives of which stressed his objectivity and fairness. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. B. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER Ms. Piercy said she and Mr. Poling had conducted a Mayor’s one-on-one meeting that was very informative. She attended the opening of VetLift III, a facility providing housing and other services to veterans. She MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 26, 2009 Page 1 Work Session